My oldest child is a Junior, starting to look at colleges. (Mostly state schools, with a few privates, within a few hours of NYC. None have really competitive admissions.)
A number of them seem to place a high priority on the interview.
At what point does he schedule an interview, and with whom? Does he request one when he visits the schools over the next few months as a Junior? Or do we return to the schools next year and schedule it then? How does he go about requesting the admissions interview?
If the colleges offer interviews when he visits then yes schedule interviews. Wherever possible interviewing is a good idea because it demonstrates interest and makes your son or daughter more of a real person. Some colleges will offer on-campus interviews you can do during visit and some won’t. The most selective colleges will schedule alumni interviews in your hometown but not until after your child has applied
The above post covers most of your questions. When planning a visit, he can request one. If granted one when he visits, then that’s all is needed. It’s fully possible that no interviewers are available or it’s a bad time of the year. That’s fine. Indeed, many may not offer on-campus interviews.
Frankly, many colleges may not have ANY interviews. For the others, and IF a volunteer is available, he will be contacted once he submits his app. You don’t have to return to the college as a senior for an interview.
Colleges know that apps > volunteers and he won’t be disadvantaged if he doesn’t get one.